XU ZHEN® "Xu Zhen Store"

We are pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition “Xu Zhen Store” at Akio Nagasawa Gallery Aoyama.

“Xu Zhen Store” is an art project by XU ZHEN®, a representative contemporary artist from China.
Xu Zhen was born in 1977 in Shanghai. In addition to creating paintings and sculptures, he works across a wide range of genres including also installation, photography and video, and above that, is also active as a curator.
In 2009 he launched his own art production “MadeIn Company,” followed in 2013 by the brand “XU ZHEN®.” In 2014 MadeIn Company opened the gallery space “MadeIn Gallery,” and in 2016, the “Xu Zhen Store” by “XU ZHEN®”. Having exhibited his works at the Venice Biennale (2001, 2005), The Museum of Modern Art (New York, 2004), Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, 2005), MoMA PS1 (New York, 2006), Tate Liverpool (2007), Guggenheim Museum (2017), and other places around the world, Xu Zhen is still based in Shanghai today.
This Tokyo version of the “Xu Zhen Store” by “XU ZHEN®” is the first ever exhibition dedicated to the “Xu Zhen Store” that is held outside China.

The artist describes the “Xu Zhen Store” as follows.
“A variety of art museums are recently opening in Shanghai. While art may be some kind of luxury for the general public, the idea behind the ‘Xu Zhen Store’ was to develop ‘art goods’ that are exhibited at art museums, but that visitors can take home and familiarize with in their daily routine. Visitors to the Xu Zhen Store may not consider the ‘goods’ they find here as ‘artworks.’ However, if they see the same items displayed at an art museum, that environment tells them to perceive the items as ‘art.’ The market for artworks in China is still somewhat immature, so my idea was to create an entranceway that helps expand and mature the market.”

In accordance with XU ZHEN®’s own concept of a “pop-up store,” the Tokyo exhibition of the “Xu Zhen Store” features multiple artworks from the “Eternity” and “Evolution” series, two of the artist’s most representative creations, as well as items from his “Spread” series of works in the style of stuffed toys. Also “I’m fine!” a new piece that was specially made for the Tokyo show. Visitors can purchase all works on display, just like buying clothes at a boutique.

We are looking forward to your visit!